Window-curtain-operating mechanism.



F. W. ADLOF. WINDOW CURTAIN OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1911.

ATTORNEYS IIVVENTOR vc'erlbh Wmlof Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

6 SHEBTS-SHBET 1.

WITNESSES.

F. W.ADLOF. WINDOW CURTAIN OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1911.

Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m m N n w ATTORNEYS cuLumum PLANOGRAI'II CU.,WASIHN(iTON. u. C;

P. W. ADLOF.

WINDOW CURTAIN OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1911.

Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

6 8KEETS-BHBBT 3.

INVENTOI? Fr & E MM M .II. w

ATTORNEYS F. W. ADLOF.

WINDOW GURTAIN OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEBT 4.

mm, fi.

filllllll WITNESSES:

IV VE N T 0/? 744311 62501" I-l COLUMBIA PLANOGRM'H CO.,WASIIINGTON. 04C F. W. ADLOF. WINDOW CURTAIN OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION TILED MAY 2, 1011.

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F. W. ADLOF. WINDOW CURTAIN OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION IILED MAY2, 1911.

1,059,257, Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

A TTOR/VEYS coummA PLANOORAPN C0..WASmNnTON, ulc.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK 1W. ADLOF, OF NEW. KENSINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

WINDOW-CURTAIN-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 2, 1911. SerialNo. 624,539.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERIGKW. ApLoF, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of New Kensington, in thecountyofnWestr moreland and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a newand IHIPITOVGdVlIlClOWCLlIr rain-Operating Mechanism, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description. 1

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in iviewareto provicle means for operating a window curtain which is positive andindependent of springs or other devices subject to disorganization; toprovide a mechanism for adjusting a curtain theoperation whereof issimplifiedand accelerated; and toprovide a mechanism of the charactermentioned adapted; for operation to lift the curtain from the sill ofthe window upward. a

With these objects in view. the invent on consists in producing awinding mechanism manually operable to rotate the curtain roller.

It further consists informing a mecha nism of the character mentionedhavingincorporated therein a balancing spring and holdingbrake, theoperation of which per.- mits the accurate adjustment of the windowcurtain.

It further consists in constructing a casing for a winding mechanismofthe character named affording easyand ready access to the mechanismwithin said casing.

One embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in thelstructureillustrated in the accompanyin drawings, in which like characters of reerence denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which" Figure1 is a front elevation of a window having applied thereto a curtain andoperating mechanism therefor l constructed and arranged in accordancewiththe present invention; Fig. 2.is a samilar view showing the curtainadjusted at the sill to operate toward the head of the window; Fig. 3 isa on the line 6-6 in Fig. 4.; Fi 7 is a similar.

Patented Apr.15,1913.1

nism; Fig. 14: isa detail view showing the driving shaft of theoperating mechanism, F 1g. 15 1s. a detail view in vertical cross sec: 1tion of one of the operating rods for controla ling the operatingmechanism; Fig. 16 is. a view showing the window curtain operatingmechanism in conjunction with a window curtain of ordinary construction,the spring actuated roller thereof being shown in section; Fig. 17 is adetail view on an;enlarged scale, showing the method ofconnecting thecurtain roller or ordinary construc: tion to theoperatingmechanismherein disclosed; Fig. 18 is a vertical longitudinal section taken onthe line 1818 in Fig. .19; Fig. 19 is a vertical cross section takenon:the line 19-19 in Fig. .18; Fig. 20 is a vertical longitudinalsection taken on the line 20--20 in Fig. 21:; and Fig. 21 is a verticalcross section taken on the line 21-21 in Fig.20. As shown in theaccompanying drawings, and in Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the containing case26 is mounted upon the window frame and upon the head thereof. In F ig..1 ithe. case is shown as directly connected withthe curtain roller 27upon which the curtain28 1 is rolled. InFig. 2 thecurtain roller 27; isadjusted. in suitable bearings adjacent the sill of the window, and thecurtain 28 is connected I with the operating mechanism contained in thecase 26 by means of cords 29. In both installations the operating.mechanism contained in the case 26 is actuated jbythe pull cords 30, tomanipulate. which there are provided the rods 31. The rods 31 areconnected with the cords 30 by means of pocket sockets 32. The socket 32is best seenin Fig.15 of the drawings. The lower section of the socketis constructed from a short tube the end whereof is tapped toform ascrew thread thereon, one of said threads being thread engaged with thehead 33 of the rod 31. The other end of the short tube is thread onagedwith a plug 34. The plug 34 isprovi ed with a central performtionfor the passage of the cord 30, a knot 35being formed in the saidcord afterthe same has passed through the perforation: in the plug;34=.To cushion th'eblo'w of the sockets: 32iagainst the case 26there are prol cords 30.

videdthimbles 36, at the upper end whereof are formed extended flanges37. The thimbles 36 are guided byfshort tubular sections 38, whichsections 38 are thread engaged with the plug 34." Interposed betweentheflange 37 of the thimble 86 and the end of the tubular. section 38 is .aspiral spring 39.

7 It willbe understood that' there is a socket 32 and thimble 36, withthe parts above described therewith, mounted on each of the In bothforms of installation shownin Figs. 1 and 2 the rotation'of the curtainroller 27 is accomplished by operatively conheating the same with adriving gear wheel 40. The, wheel 40 is fixedly mounted upon;

a shaft 41 upon which is also mounted the double sectioned winding spool42. The

spool 42 is equally divided by a flange 43,

forming thereby on the said spool adjacent winding compartmentsfor thetwo cords 80. The cords 30, 30, it will be understood are Wound upon thespool 42 in opposite directions so that the pull exerted on one of thecords 30 will rotate the spool 42 and shaft 41 connected therewith inone direction,

curtain roller 27 in such manner as to rotate'thesaid rollerinunison-with the said shaft. V

- I In'the form of installation shown in Fig. 2.of the drawings, theshaft 45 is substituted by the shaft 46, upon which shaftis f fixedlymounted a two-sectioned winding spool 47; The spool 47 is'divid'ed intotwo compartments by a central flange 48, as seen best'in Fig.,l8 of thedrawings; When opcrating the construction shown in Fig.,18j the sp'ool42 is rotated by manipulating the same through the cords 30, an'd theshaft 46 and spool 47 are rotated tozwind or unwind as the case may be,the hanging cords 29.

The ratio of the diameters of the wheel 40':

and the pinion'44 maybe varied to 'suit the operatingconditionsdesirablefor the curtain; Wh'en operating the curtain 28 fromthe sill of the window, and employing the cords'29, the same are guidedby two pulleys 49and 50, whichspulleyshave different dimensions.

guided by each pulley to'feed upon the spool amend into the oppositewinding sections provided thereon! The cords 29, 29 are supported on thehead of the window frame by means of guide pu'lleys'51. 8

the formof .'nstallation sho inFig,

, g The difference in diameter of the. pulleys-49 and 50is such that thecord 29 is to 1 the slack of the curtain istaken up by the weight of thesame and the rod usually mounted in the looped end 52 of the curtain. Inthe form shown-in Fig. 2 the looped end 52 being inverted theinstallation necessitates the employment of some special device fortaking up the slack in thecurtain, The

mechanism employed by me for this purpose a is best shown in Figs.20*and 21'. Thecurtain roller 27 is there shown as carrying the" shaft,45. The shaft 45 in this form ofthe installation has fixedlyattachedithereon' a bevel pinion 53. The pinion 53 is meshed with amatched bevel gear wheel 54 whichlis suitably mounted in bearingsformedin the casing 55. z The casing 55, asv seen in Fig. 2'

of the drawings, is rigidly mounted on one of the vertical rails ofthewindow frame. The trunnion 56 mounted in the opposite end of theroller 27 has abearing .57 ;pro-

vided therefor on the-vertical rail of; .the 7 frame at theopposite'side of:the window. I

The roller 27 and bevel pinionv53 connected therewith are normallyrotated to wind the I 9'0 roller 27 by the bevel gear wheel 54 and thespiral spring 58 operatively connectedthere-' wit-h and mounted in the'casing'. The

fixed end of the spring 58 is anchored in a post 59 set out from the.base 60 of the 'casing55. This construction is best seeniin Fig. 21ofthe drawings. The normal'operation of the spring 58 is to rotate theshaft- 61 gear 54, pinion 53-and 'roller27 con-I nected therewith, Therotation of the'roller 27 is only prevented bythecords 29,, 29 by whichthe curtain .28 is suspended It will be understood that whenever thecords 29.,

29 are slacked the spring .58 and tra'nsrnisv sion mechanism a connectedtherewith operate to rotate the roller 27 and gather there: on-thecurtain 28. Against the strain-of the spring 58 in the one case, and theweight of. the curtain'in the other case,-the shaft 41 is held fromrotation by a brake fixedly connected to, rotate with; the, shaft .41.The

brake referred to is mounted inthecase 26 and in a chamber thereofs'eparated from that containing the spool 42' by a partition 6 1. Thepartition- 61 is provided with an Q enlarged opening concentric [withtheshaft 41, the edge of the opening, being provided with a screw thread"to 'support the brake box 62. The box 62isheldfixedly in the apartition 61","and is centrally boredgto form M a bearing ;for the shaft41,1as is best seen in-1 Fig. 4 of the drawings. Thev box 62 con- 1,tains the various members "forming .the brake employed in the presentinvention, and is closed by a cover 63. The cove'r63is fixedly mountedon theshaft 41, the section 72 thereof being flattened toextend throughthe saidcover to key the sameon the said shaft. The flattened portion 72of theshaft 41 is also extendedthrough, a disk, 71, an

elliptical perforation 73] being provided'i therefor. Uponthe disk 71are raised bosses 74. The bosses 74:; have 1formed therein threadedholes 75 tobe *engagedfl by the ings. i As there seen, the shoe isprovided. with a central recess 77, the straight sides whereof form aguidefor the movement of I the brake blocks 69 when the same aredeposited in the recesses 7 7 The brake blocki 69 and the brake shoe 70are shaped to, re-

ceive the leaf springs 78. The springs 78 are I shapedas shownin Fig.'13, having aicentral bend 79 which fits within the. recess :80

formed in the block 69. See Fig-.11.. At the 1 outer end ofthespringsareformedthe curled pivot portions 81. Theipivot portions 81 are adapted:to rest in; the pivot; seats 82 formed at the end of theislots 83 ineach shoe 70. Each of theibrake shoes 70 and blocks 69 connectedtherewith is mountedupon a disk;71,.the bosses 74 extending between thebowed extensions of the springs 78. In this position the plates 84extend into the narrow channel 85 formed between: the

bowed extensionsofeach of the springs, as

seen best in Figs. 6 and 13 of the drawings. The pressure exertedoutwardly by the springs 78 upon the shoes-70 is regulatedby means ofthe wedge blocks. 66, which are manipulated by means of the screws 64.to become jammed between theblocks 691and the shoes 7 0. To this endthe blocks 66 are provided with a screw threaded perforation 65 and aninclined surface67. To receive and guide the blocksi66 the. shoes :70are pro: vided witha recess 86, at the opening whereofis formed twoprojections 87which1extend within the grooves ,88 formed in. theopposite sides of the blocks 66.; The blocks 69 are for the samepurpose, to wit,.to form a guide for the blocks 66 provided with therecess 68, shown best in dotted lines in: Fig:

11 of the drawings.

It will be noted that the recess 80is pro-.

vided with a slightly flattened side 89, which when the block 69 ismoved toward the center. of the disk 71 compresses and flattens the bentportion 79 of ;the spring 78. The bendedportion 79 beingincased withinthe recess 80 forms a seated, spring. When the wedge block 66 isdrawnytoward the cover 63 in the first partiof the operation. thebowedextensions of the'spring yield, bend.- ing from the flared ends of.the bosses 74,

as shown best in Fig. .6 of the drawings.

When the extent of the action of'the bowed extensions of the spring hasbeen reached the flattened surface 89 of :the block 69 is forcedagainstthe bended portion 79 of the spring. and compresses the saidbended portion. It will be noted that by means of this arrangement aspring cushion is formed.

for the shoes 70. The tension of the pressure of the shoes 70 againstthe side of the brake 100x62 is varied at will. To vary the said tensionthe screws 64: are manipulated to draw the blocks 66 toward the cover 63or extend the same away therefrom. It will be understood that whenthetension'is once set it so remains until the screws 64 are again manuallymanipulated.

It is to counterbalance the weight of the curtain 28 in its variousextensions that I have provided the 'coiled spring90. The spring 9O iscoiled upon a spool 91, the

flanges 192xwhereof form guides for the said spring. The inner end ofthe spring 901s anchored to a bindingpost93 formedad jacent the centerof the. hub of the spool 91;.

The outer-end of the spring is held in .a binding post 94 extended fromthe side of the case 26. The cover 95 is screw threaded to engagethescrew threads formed in the annular flange .96 extended from the sideof the case 26. The spool 91 with spring 90,

is inserted over the section 72 ofjthe said shat'txto counterbalance therotam effect thereon of the curtain 28. The :end of the 1 section 97 ofthe shaft 41 is mounted in the bearing formed in the screw threadedbut-.

ton 98. i

The purposeof the cover 95 is to permit.

the. adjustment of the spring to vary the initial tension thereof on theshaft 41. The

cover is unscrewed from its engagement with the flange 96, and the spool91 1s then exposed formanipulation by the operator.

It will be understood that from time te time the tension of thespringwill bethus waried as the same weakensfrom age or from other reasons.The spring 90 isso arranged that as the curtain is extended the spr1ng1s wound so that as the weight of the curtaln gradually increases in11ke proport1on the tension of i the spring 1s ll'iCI'GElSQCL. The

spring is selected for. qualities rendering it. acceptable for thepurpose of counterbalanc- 1 ing the increasing weight of the curtain.

In Figs. l6iand 17 1s shown the arrange ment whereby is adapted for use,in conjunction with the present operating mechanism,

an automatic roller of the common type. The shaft 99 of the ordinaryroller, having the flattened end 100 as seen in Fig. 17 is held betweenloose chuck jaws 101. The. jaws 101 are provided with a boss 102 adapt-11 ed to rest against the ratchet plate 103 of 1 Either of.

the common Hartshorn roller. the shafts 15 01-46, as the case may be, is

A follower-nut 106 is provided whichis 42Ji's rotated to transmit itsrotary motion o' 1.- In/combin'ation; a Window curtain; a

dow curtain roller; a transmission mechaflattened end 100.

*c'urtainis as follows; The installation havthe pinion 44: The ratiobetween the gear a 27, over and above that produced on the' hold "of thebrake shoes 70. Whenthecurthe operation of the balancingspring in, t

a for increasing the operative tension of, said a plurality of cablesadapted to wind on 1 said drum; to rotate the same ,in'a 'oppositethread engaged with the block 104 so that. when manipulated it is.forced against the collar 105' to move the same overthe jaws 10 1- andto contract the same upon the shafts 46 and 99 and imprisonth'erebet'ween the With an operating mechanism constructed. and arrangedas shown in the accompanying drawings and as above described the operating for raising and lowering the Window ing been niadeeithe'r as shownin Fig. 1 or as shown in Fig. 2, one ofthe rods 31'is grasped, by theoperator, theselection being'made with reference to Whether the op-"eration is to raise or lower the curtain. By then pulling upon the"selected rod the spool" to the curtain roller 27 inthemanner above'described through the gear wheel dofilld;

wheel 40 and pinion a l-is such as to accel-i 'eratethe rotary speedproduced on'the roller shaft 41'. Therota ti'on of the shaft 41 andparts connected therewith is against the;

taiii has been properly adjusted the grip of the shoe 0 on the box 62 issufiic ient to hold the -shaft 41 from further rotation. This action ofthe brake shoes 70 is assisted by Y the manner as above set forth.While; I have herein: described a certain form of mechanism foreffecting, the 'purposes set forth, it'will be understood that I am notconfined to the details of structure of the parts thereof nor to theparticular assembl'age described; y a

Having thus described my invention, jg what I claim as new and desire tose'curebyt Letters Patent is; a

roller'for said curtain, a rotary dru1'n;;a driving shaft fixedlymounted on said: drum;

connecting shaft for engagingjthe winnisin operatively connecting. saidshafts; a brake member fixedly mounted onsaid driving shaft-adaptedtohold said driving shaft against the pull of the window curtain; and

directions while being unwound from said drum. a I

2. In combination; a windowc'urtain; a roller provided with' supportingtrunnions therefor; .a driving shaft; a transmission mechanismconnecting said trunnions; and said driving shaft; a vrotary drumfixedly mounted on said driving shaft; an operating came wound upon saiddrum in opposite directions; a manually operated mecharii' i fo anir n ad mnd a balaaeing spring mounted on said" driving i duaasv shaft to ta ethe weight er said man,

said spring adapted to wind on said shaft as the said curtainisunwo-undon its roller.

3.In combination;a' windoW curtain; a t V roller; a cord drivenmechanism for, rehab ing said roller; a holdingbrake' for saidrolleradapted to control the rotation thereof; a counter-balancingde'vice forsaid curtain; and manually controlledmeans for operating said corddriven mechanism.-

roller for said curtain, a cord operated driving mechanism. having adriving shaft; a

winding drum fixedlymounte'djthereon;two

cables Wound on said drum to rotate the same as the said cables areunwoundflfroin alternately in, opposite directions ;a brake havingyilfixed d'riigand fixedlyconnected with said "shaft; a bra-ke'sho'e-fo'rsaid brake;

and a coiled springanchor'ed' to said'shafti and adapted to bewoundthereon inuniSon with the unwinding of the curtain on its roller tocounter-balance the increasingrotary strain of 'said cur'tain on saidroller.

said drum; manually operatedmeans for a manipulating said cables torotate salddrumy 5. In combination; in a window curtain; a t

roller for said curtain, a brake having asta-V tionary cylindricalwearing member; a plunot rotary body portion; a stationary cylindri 7Cal wearing member surrounding and con centric with s'jaid body,;portion; a"plurality of brake shoes connected'to rotate with said bodyportion; resilient meansmdunted on member; and means carried by, saidbrake shoes for varylng' 'the pressureyof said resllient means uponSitlCl brake shoes;

i said "body portion to no-rmally 'thrustsaid brake shoes to I bearagainst gsaid wearing 7. In a,Window curtain' operating mechanism,a'bra-ke having a rotarybody/portion; a stationary cylindrical wearing Qmember infolding said body portionand mounted concentric" therewith; aplurality of curved brake shoes having we'aring suit-faces shaped tothecurve of said wearin member; a plu rality of springs mounted' on saidbody portion to normally move said, brake shoes toengage saidwearingniember; a plurality of a blocks interposed between. saidshoes-land said springs to vary the effective tension of said springsupon said shoesrand mean's for r varying v the relative disposition ofsaid blocks'and said's hoes V v 8. Ina window curtain operatingymechainis'in, a brake having a rotary bod' portion; a'stationary cylindricalwearing f bsr infoldinjg said: body pardon and norms Ubody portion tono1 'mal1y move saidubrake shoes to engage: said %wearingmember; a

plurality of blocks interposed between said shoes and said s rings tovary theeflective tension ofsai springs upon said shoes;

[Wand a plurality of wedge-shapedmembers disposed between said blocksand said shoes to vary the relative disposition of said: blocks and saidshoes.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of 1 15 two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK W. ADLOF.

Witnesses:

GEO. D. HAUER,: CHAs.:B. Ross.

Copies of this patent maybewbtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0.?

